Deadly Blast Hits Russian Coal Mine

By

James Marson

Updated Feb. 11, 2013 2:58 p.m. ET

MOSCOW—A methane gas explosion at a coal mine in Russia's far north left at least 17 dead on Monday, the latest deadly incident to strike an industry that has seen dozens of fatalities in recent years.

Around 250 people were underground at the time of the blast at a mine in the town of Vorkuta, north of the Arctic Circle, most of whom escaped unharmed. Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said 17 miners had died, with one still...